Spirit level



Sept. l, 1931; .1. F. WEBER SPIRII` LEVEL Filed Sept. 6. 1927 www weber ,Jgwo v nl, A nu l Sn. 1. I Ziff/4. 5].

latented Sept. 1, 1931 Unirse srarss rmniar oFFlcE JACOB FRANK WEBER, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T THE PEERLESS LEVEL &

v TOOL COMPANY, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF` ILLINOIS SPIRIT LEVEL Application mea september e; 1927. serial 110,217,632.

r1`his invention relates to spirit levels in general, and more particularly to those in which each opening in the body of the level has two vials or glass tubes containing the spirit, the two glass tubes being separately and indepedently mounted, and being each removable without disturbing the other.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provioe a novel and improved construction for mounting the glass tubes'in oblong openings in the body of the level, and for making each tube and its metal holder removable independently of the other tube and its metal holder, in the same opening, as

will hereinafter more fully appear.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction, and combinations tending to increase the general efficiency and the desirability of a spirit level of this particular construction.

To these and other usefulends, the invention consists inthe matters hereinafter set forth and claimed,and shown inthe accompanying drawings, in whieh,-

embodying the principles of therinvention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2 in Fig. 1, with certain portions of the body of the level broken away and omitted for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line 3 3 in Fig. 1. a A v Fig. 4 is a bottom'view, or view of the inner side, of one of the metal holders for the glass tubes.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, form of holder. f Y

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a body 1 of wood or other suitable material.

As shown, this body has three oblong openings therein, 2, 3 and 4.y each opening or slot extending lengthwise of the body of the level.

The openings 2 and 4 have transversely arranged glass tubes 5 and 6 therein, the tube 5 being fixed in a metal holder 7 and the tube 6 being fixed in a similar metal holder 8, the

showing a Vdierent two holders being eomplernental and fitting together, as shown, tobring the tubes into the same plane. These holders are -oblong,ar'id 0 each has a flange 9-at one end thereof', with Fig. V1 is a side elevation of a spirit level' mounting portions 10 between the end portions of this flange for the ends of the glass tubeV which contains the spirit. The two tubes are reversely'curved, as shown, so that the vertical can be determined by using either tube. A flange 11 is formed on the inner side of each .metal holder, and thus each metal holderloosely lits the oblong opening in which the two holders are located. Holes 12fare formed in the ears 13 ofeach holder, these holes being a little larger than the screws 14 which are inserted through these openings into the body lof the level. Glass plates 15 are fixed in position on the outer side of each metal holder, 4as shown, thus enclosing the glass tubes between them.

The opening 3 is similarly equipped, eX- cept that in this case the glass tubes 16 and 17 are disposed lengthwise or longitudinally of the body 1 of the level. The metal holders for this opening, therefore, are of the kind shown'in Fig. 5, this view showing the inner side of one of these holders. In this case, the end portions of the `oblong metal holder are provided with thiclr` portions 18 to` rigidly mount the end portions of the glasst'uble, with a fairly 'wide flange 19 eX- tending between these two thick portions. Thenarrow flange 20 extends along the other side of the holder,` from one portion. 18 to the other portion 18 as shown, so that this metal holder loosely lits the opening 3 in which Vit is mounted. The other holder of the pair is of similar formation, but is re'- versed, so to speak, so Vthat thetwo holders are complemental and lit together to bring the tubes 16 and'l' into the same plane.l Screws 21 hold thesemetal holders in place, as previously explained in connection with the holders-for the opening 2, and glass plates 22 are applied to the two metal holders to enclose -the glasstubes between them.

The two metal holders and the` glass tubes thereof, for the opening4,\are similar to those for the opening 2, and do not need any further'description or explanation.

It is understood that the-screw holesr12 of all oit the metal holders are a little larger than the screws, as shown,land with this arrangement, land with theslightly loose fit of the metal holders in the oblong openings 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that these metal holders and their glass tubes can be shifted or adjusted slightly to accurately position them in the said oblong openings. But when the screws are finally tightened up, it will be seen that they fully cover the openings 12, and there is no indication on the face or outer surface of the level that adjustment of the glass tubes is possible. rIhus the loose fit of the metal holders in the oblong openings in the body of the level, and the screw holes, permit slight adjustment of the glass tubes, to obtain accurate positioning thereof, andit will be seen that this adjustment is not a rotative adjustment about a fixed axis, or of that nature, as the formation of the oblong openings 2, 3 and 4 is of a character to limit the sliewing or other displacement Aof the metal holders in these oblong openings. In other words, an oblong tube holder cannot be rotated in an oblong opening, of course, or skewed yin such an opening, except to the extent that the holder is not a tight tit in the opening and has a little play or looseness therein. Of course, the Ascrew holes12 Viinpose a limitation on the adjustment of the tube holders, but even without this the oblong openings 2, 3 and 4, and the oblong formation of the metal tube holders, would and do impose a limit on the capacity of the tube holders for adjustment to accurately position the tubes relatively to the straight sides and edges of the level body.

' Furthermore, it will be seen that the level body-is-formed with a longitudinal depression 23 on each side thereof, and that although the metal holders for the' glass tubes have flanges 24 which extend beyond the edges of the openings 2, 3 and 4, it is nevertheless true, by reason of the depressions 23, that the metal holders for the tubes are flush with the two opposite side surfaces 25 of the level body, so that either side of the level can be placed`v for example, upon a table or flat support without causing-the metal holders or their screws to engage the surface of such table or support. vThus each flat side of the body of wood or other material from which the body ofthe level is made is provided Vwith a wide, flat bottomed groove, as shown, and these grooves are of such depth that the exposed portions of the metal tube holders'and the screw heads are below the top of each groove and do not extend beyond the fiat side surfaces of the level body. In this way, and by channeling or grooving each side of the wood body, or body of other material, the metal tube holders can extend out a distance from the immediate surrounding surface of the level body, which surfaceis the bottom of the channel or groove, and may have ordinary screws with exposed heads forlreniovably fastening the holders in place. For, with this construction, either flat side ofthe level can be placedon a table, or

any other at surface, without danger of the metal holders or screw heads scratching or engaging such table or other surface.

Thus the metal tube holders conform to the shape of the oblong or elongated openings 2, 3 and 4, but with sufficient looseness, as explained, to permit each holder to be adjusted bodily, either lengthwise of the level body or transversely thereof, and also perniittingeach holder to be skewed, if desired. In this way, when a new tube'holder and 'its tube are inserted, to take the place of a broken tube, the user of the level can easily adjust the new tube holder and .-itstube until the tube is in the exact position necessary to give a correct indication. i

As a mattei' of further and special improve ment, the screws 14 are threaded to engage the threaded openings in the plates 2G imbedded in the wood body of the level. These plates andthe screws may be .of any suitable metal, such as brass, bronze or other suitable metal, but the plates are preferably solidly iinbedded in the wood of the body of the level, so that the plates will not bemoved or disturbed or displaced to any extent whatever. In this way the: screws 14 can be taken out and put back, practifj'ally any number of times, without danger of the screws becoming loose or failing to have proper screw t-lireaded engagement with the plates 26, notwithstanding that the body of the level is made of wood. For the purpose of` this construction, the body of the level is provided with transverse holes 27 bored therein, to receive the screws, and the threaded openings in the plates 26 are axially alined with each bore or round opening 27, and the somewhat larger holes 12, previously inentioned, permitthe adjustment of the castings or vial holders in the manner previously explained. The screws 14,- however, will have fixed positions on the level, as the plates 26 are held against displacement in any direc-Y tion.

It will be seen, therefore, that the screws i" 14 are in the na-ture. of bolts, and that the plates 26'serve as nuts for the bolts, butthesc nuts being held in fixed position in the body of the level.

Without disclaiming anything, and with' out prejudice to any novelty disclosed, what I claim as my invention is:

1. In a level, a body having an oblong or elongated opening therein, forming aA longitudinal slot in said body, a pair of glass tubes each holder, because ofthe shape and size of said slot, is free to be-skewed or moved bodily in said slot, for adjusting said tubesvseparately in any direction in said plane, and

separateremovable fastening means for each holder for removably and adj ustably securfits ing said holders in said oblong or elongated opening, each holder thereby with its allotted tube fixed thereon being removable without disturbing the other, from opposite sides of said body, each tube holder being a duplicate of the other and having inner portions spaced slightly from the opposite edges of said slot, whereby said slot by reason of its oblong shape and said inner portions co-operate to approximately position said tube holders at the desired angle for the insertion of said fastening means, said securing means comprising a pair of spaced plates imbedded in the body of the level at each end of said slot, midway between the opposite sides ot the body, each plate having a threaded opening, the threaded openings oi each pair being in alinement, and including screws engaging the threaded openings of said plates, having a separate plate for each screw.

2. In a level, a body having an oblong or elongated opening therein, forming a longitudinal slot in said body, a pair ofglass tubes in said opening, and a pair oit' complemental oblong metal tube holders for supporting said tubes in said oblong opening, in a common plane, disposed adjustably in said slot, so that each holder because of the shape and size of said slot is free to be skewed or moved bodily in said slot, for adjusting said tubes separately in any direction in said plane, and separate removable fastening means for each holder for removably and adjustably securing said holders in said oblong or elongated opening, each holder thereby with its allotted tube fixed thereon being removable without disturbing the other, from opposite sides of said body, each tube holder being a duplicate of the other and having inner portions spaced slightly from the opposite edges of said slot, whereby said slot by reason of its oblong shape and said inner portions co-operate to approximately position said tube holders at the desired angle for the insertion of said fastening means, said securing means comprising a pair of alined bolts for the opposite ends of said opening, and separate nuts, one for the inner end oi' eaclrof the four bolts, the nuts being heldin fixed position midway betnlieen the opposite sides of the body of the leve 3. In a level, a body having an oblong or elongated opening therein,forming a longitudinal slot in said body, a pair of glass tubes in said opening, and a pair of complemental oblong metal tube holders for supporting said tubes in said oblong opening, in a common plane, disposed adjustably in said slot, so that each holder because of the shape and size of said slot is free to be skewed or moved bodily in said slot, for adjusting said tubes separately in any direction in said plane, and separate removable fastening means for each holder for removably and adjustably securing said holders in said oblong or lelongated opening, each holder thereby with its allotted tube i'ixed thereon being removable without disturbingthe other from opposite sides of said body, each tube holder being a duplicate of the other and having inner portions spaced slightly from the opposite edges of said slot, whereby said slot by reason of its oblong shape and said inner portions co-operate to approximately position said tube holders at the desired angle for theV insertion of said fastening means, the body of the level being made of wood, and said securing means comprising plates solidly imbedded in the wood, each plate having a threaded opening, and including screws inserted through the tube holders and engaging the threaded openings of said plates, there being a separate plate for each screw.

4. In a level, the combination of a body of metal plates imbedded Yinthe body, each plate having a threaded opening, the openings being alined, glass tubes and tube holders, and alined screws inserted through the tube holders and having threaded engagement with the alined openings of said plates, said material being softer than said plates, and

said body having holes for said screws inY alignment with the holes of said plates.

Specification signed this 1st day of Sept.,

JACOB FRANK WEBER. 

